On a dark September morning in Oldham, a woman opened the door to find the police standing there. They had been called to a report of domestic violence, but the woman did not dare to file a formal complaint.
But unlike similar warnings that police respond to here, this one was different. They did not act alone and were accompanied by a highly skilled expert, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).
Together they were able to explain the criminal process to the woman and give her reassurance that she would have support if she made a formal accusation.
Only then did the woman open up and reveal the horror of what she had witnessed, giving police the explanation they needed to arrest and charge her alleged perpetrator.
READ MORE: READ MORE: "Some call it woke, I disagree": why a Manchester CEO gives staff 'unlimited' time off to get pregnant 'I fled my abusive ex. Then why do I feel like I'm the one in prison?'The call was part of a targeted response from GMP in Oldham, working with the IDVA, along with Greater Manchester organization Talk Listen Change' (TLC).
From Monday 11 September to Sunday 17 September, the force arrested 33 people on suspicion of domestic violence-related offences, including sexual assault, stalking and intimidation, and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Police in the borough have made their response to domestic abuse a number one priority due to what bosses described as a 'high rate of calls' compared to the rest of Greater Manchester.
Chief Inspector Phil Hutchinson is leading the latest campaign. He told the Manchester Evening News he and his agents are committed to building trust with the most vulnerable people who call them for help.
"We know that domestic violence is a cycle and that's why early involvement is critical to us," he said. 'We try to see victims as quickly as possible because the point is to talk to them when it is still new and when they have chosen to seek help.
"We don't always get there quickly enough, which is something we are trying to address, but it is about keeping the victim involved and informed in the process.
"Here in Oldham we have a list of the top 10 perpetrators and the top 10 victims within the borough, based on the number of reports and we absolutely prioritize them as they are at risk of serious harm. Not just physically, but psychologically too ."
The latest operation carried out by Supt Hutchinson's team involved executing arrest warrants, acting on intelligence and trying to encourage victims and survivors to tell their stories.
During a call to a woman reporting domestic violence, an officer and IDVA were able to obtain crucial evidence as part of their ongoing investigation.
"Thanks to the skill of that officer and IDVA, we were able to get some really good evidence from a victim who without that support may not have come forward," Detective Zad Latiff said.
"We had a few instances where we responded to reports that did not involve a victim, but we were able to speak to the victim and gather evidence.
"It's about being patient, listening and offering support and reassurance about what we can do for the victim. The victim clearly felt at ease and gave us a statement that led to charges. It was all thanks to the presence of the right people. the victim."
Talk Listen Change (TLC) also plays a key role in the crackdown on domestic violence in Oldham. The organization has seen a 180 percent increase in referrals since the start of 2021.
The majority of their work is carried out in schools, where they help identify potentially unhealthy behaviors and address problems before they can escalate. During GMP's week of action they set up stalls in Spindles Shopping and Tesco, educating local people about the vital work they do in the community.
"We want to make people aware of the types of behavior they might not normally associate with domestic violence," says Joe Chlebik, Children and Young People's Service Manager. "We are talking about aggressive language, shouting, property damage and coercive control.
'The cost of living crisis has caused families to really struggle. The coronavirus lockdowns also meant that many people spent their formative years indoors and out of contact with people, and that plays a big role in the referrals we see.
"There is a lot of stigma attached to admitting that there is a behavioral problem in the family. We started this work in January 2021 and over that two-year period we have seen a 180 percent increase in referrals, which shows how widespread the problem is."
The organization provides early intervention in schools and also works with adult offenders in Oldham.
"We believe adults have the capacity to change too, it's about uncovering often long-standing and deeply held beliefs and values," says Hannah Taylor, Head of Services at TLC.
"Domestic violence destroys lives. We know that victims can absolutely move on and build new lives and that perpetrators can change, but without the right support we cannot break the cycle."
For Supt Hutchinson and the team, the mission is to give local people a positive experience reporting crime, especially when it comes to domestic violence.
"I still think domestic violence is widely under-reported, especially in certain parts of the community," he said. "Any positive impact we have on a crime victim, they will probably tell people.
"That can then give people the strength to seek help. If we can get one perpetrator off the street, that's good news for me.
"We try to do things where we get victims to come in and talk to officers. We may think we're doing it right, but luckily none of my officers have been victims of domestic violence, so it's always important to hear from someone who has experienced it.
"If anything is learned or trained, it is passed on directly to the officers. Can we do more? Probably yes. But we are doing our very best to keep everyone competent."
